St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-16

necessary change of data and other cpr-
recti0ns that had been made. 4 copy
of this letter is herewith inclOSed for
your inspection and for your Judgment
both npOn substance of matter and
upon official courtesy of form and
expression. Several important queS-
tons were decided in the Omaha
eases other than the one referred to
herein. which Justly call for conSidera-
ton upon the point of agreement with
or cOntraventiOn of decisions of the
supreme court of the United States, but
cOnhed my application for review to
the question of indemnity for lands
excluded from the operation of the
granting act" that being OF Overshad-
owing Importance. In presenting this
application | informed the secretary
that il
WOULD NOT BE MADE PUBLIC,
unless by himself. Public attention
having now been called to the matter, l
shall feel at liberty TO furnish the press
with copy of this letter after it has
been communicated to you and copy
transmitted to him. 1t is but just to
say that the published communication
addressed to me and laid b. fore you is
10 answer to my letter applying for re-
view. The issue raised by me was
strictly one of law. The presentation
of the issue was strictly i'll the
line of legal argument. In the letter
addressed to me that issue is not made,
and the effect has been to create the
erroneous impression that the issue was
one of authority alone, and that | had
refused to execute the Secretary'S
official orders. This diversion of the
issue from one of legal construction 10
one of authority and INSTRUMENTATION is
the substitution of force for argument;
Il diversion of the public mind from the
merits of the case, and. if not resisted
by me in this presentation to you, u,would
be the suppression by that power of a
proper and cOnSiderate effort on my
part. as the commissioner Of the general
land Office. to secure, i'll the public in
tereSt, an impartial hearing before the
secretary of the interior on a purely
legal question affecting the administra-
ton of the office with which l am
charged. The office of commissioner of
the general land office has been one of
intense labor, imposing constant
sense of
HIGH RESPONSIBILITY.
Having sought it at your hands, / have
continued to hold it only out of sense
of duty. with a view of effecting some
good To the public. / have endeavOred
to discharge my full duty in it, in the
face of many discouragements and
much calumny and abuse from those
whose interests were to defeat the poll
cies pursued. | have believed my line
of action to be correct, and thought
had reason for the belief that it met
your approval. If these decisions fore
shadow change in official policy on
this subject, knowing well what this
will mean in practical application, /
could not, of course, with my sense of
duty, be the instrument to effect the
change. Having ever as now regarded
the commission | hold from you as sub
ject To your recall, and desiring TO re-
lieve you of any possible embarraSs-
ment. herewith tender you my resigna-
ton of the Office of commissioner of the
general land office. and ask its early ac-
ceptance. And in thus severing my
connection with your administration,
beg to assure you of my earnest wish
that the same wisdom, fiFmnesS and in
tegrity which has thus far SO eminently
marked your administration may con-
tinue to enhance you in the estimation
of your cOuntrymen. Very respect
fully. WILLIAM 4. J. SPARKS.
The president did not accept the
resignation of Commissioner Sparks
Tonight, but will consider it tomorrow.